What Are Your True Colors?

Problem Scenario

My question is worth asking because some people really like colors and I am one of them. It can also be good to know, sometimes, what is put into our coloring utensils.

Broad Question

What makes the color in markers?

Specific Question

What is put into markers to make their colors?

Hypothesis

I think each marker will have about three colors in them, each.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable:

The type of marker and color of marker.

Dependent Variable:

The amount of color bands in one marker.

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

The amount of water, size of candy, and amount of marker.

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General Plan

Potential Problems And Solutions

• No colors could separate
• Could use too much water

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

• Alcohol is flamable

Experimental Design

Number Of Comparison Samples:

9

Number Of Observation In Each Sample:

1-4

When data will be collected

March 2012

Where will data be collected?:

classroom

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Where will you get this?	Estimated Cost
Poster Board	Staples	$5.00
Marker	Friends	Free
Coffee Filter	Home	Free
Water	School	Free
Pencil	Home	Free
Tape	Home	Free
Ruler	Home	Free

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Background Research

References

Detailed Procedure

1. Write the name of color on a coffee filter
2. Make a line of pencil on the bottom of the coffee filter
3. Make a line with the marker on top of the pencil line at the bottom of the coffee filter
4. Put the coffee filter in very little water
5. Wait for the color to rise and separate
6. Take coffee filter out of the water
7. Measure the different colors that separated

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Results

All Raw Data

RP	Maker Color	Seperated Color	Length (cm)	Furthest distance (cm)
1	Green	Yellow	2.9	2.9
1	Green	Blue	1.2	4.6
2	Green	Yellow	1.3	1.3
2	Green	Blue	4.3	4.3
3	Green	Yellow	3.7	3.7
3	Green	Blue	1.7	6.7
4	Green	Yellow	3	3
4	Green	Blue	2.3	6.3
1	Red	Pink	5.2	5.2
1	Red	Red	1.5	5.1
2	Red	Pink	2.2	2.2
2	Red	Red	1.9	3.2
3	Red	Pink	3.5	3.5
3	Red	Red	1.9	5.4
4	Red	Pink	4.8	4.8
4	Red	Red	1.3	5.8
5	Red	Pink	2.4	2.5
5	Red	Red	0.3	0.3
1	Brown	Yellow	1	1
1	Brown	Red	2.4	3.4
1	Brown	Grey	1.4	4.2
2	Brown	Yellow	0.2	0.2
2	Brown	Red	2.4	2.8
2	Brown	Grey	1.7	4
3	Brown	Yellow	0.5	0.5
3	Brown	Red	2.5	3.7
3	Brown	Grey	3.7	5.3
4	Brown	Yellow	1	1
4	Brown	Red	1.8	3.3
4	Brown	Grey	0.9	4.2
1	Red Sharpie	Pink	0.8	1.6
1	Red Sharpie	Yellow	1	1
2	Red Sharpie	Pink	4.3	4.3
2	Red Sharpie	Yellow	1.8	1.8
3	Red Sharpie	Pink	5.3	5.3
3	Red Sharpie	Yellow	2	2.5
1	Blue Shapie	Blue	3.8	3.8
2	Blue Shapie	Blue	3.4	3.4
1	Black Sharpie	Purple	0.2	1.7
1	Black Sharpie	Grey	1.6	1.6
2	Black Sharpie	Purple	2.7	2.7
1	Green Sharpie	Green	0.2	0.2
2	Green Sharpie	Green	2.1	2.1
1	Green Expo	Green	0	0
2	Green Expo	Green	1.8	1.8
3	Green Expo	Green	1	1
4	Green Expo	Green	3	3
1	Purple Expo	Purple	1.3	1.3
2	Purple Expo	Purple	0.7	0.7
3	Purple Expo	Purple	1	1

Graphs

Graph Showing Average Distance - Colors In Markers

Photos

Red Vis-A-Vis Marker Color Tests

Green Vis-A-Vis Marker Tests

Brown Vis-A-Vis Marker Tests

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Data Analysis

Conclusion

My hypothesis was that there was going to be about three colors put into a marker to make their color. I can not fully conclude my experiment, only because most of the markers I tested out did not work and were just a solid color that rose up the coffee filter in a solid color or did not rise at all. For the colors that did work, though, I would say that there would be at most three colors put into markers to make their colors.

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Discussion

Benefit to Community and/or Science

Abstrac

j'h